The Deputy President of ICMSA has welcomed today’s confirmation that Irish farmers will receive 70% of their BPS in an advance payment due to be issued 16 October. Mr. Pat McCormack said that recent weather conditions were putting a degree of pressure on farmers all over the country but particularly in the north and west and the confirmation of the higher rate of advance payment was a necessary recognition of that reality. He also pointed out that very many farm finance schedules and repayment plans were based around this t.ime of year and the sense of relief that accompanied today’s announcement was palpable. Mr. McCormack said that it was only fair to acknowledge the efforts of all involved in delivering this change for which ICMSA had lobbied continuously.